Cover latching mechanism

ABSTRACT

A cover latching mechanism includes a housing and a cover. The housing defines a latching slot. The cover has a latch protruding therefrom and an end portion. The latch defines a guiding surface opposing the end portion, when the end portion tilts relative to the housing, the guiding surface guides the latch to slide out of the latching slot.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure generally relates to cover latching mechanisms.

2. Description of Related Art

Batteries are widely used in electronic devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), and cellular phones. A typical latching structure is used to latch a battery cover to the electronic device to secure the battery between the battery cover and the electronic device. However, a typical latching structure may be hard to unlatch for exposing the battery for removal.

Therefore, there is a room for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the exemplary cover latching mechanism can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. These drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the exemplary cover latching mechanism. Moreover, in the drawings like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a schematic and exploded view of a cover latching mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the cover latching mechanism like the one shown in FIG. 1, but showing another aspect.

FIG. 3 is enlarged view of a cover of the cover latching mechanism.

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of the electronic device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged and cross-sectional view of the cover latching mechanism shown in FIG. 4 along the line V-V.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of the cover latching mechanism shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the cover latching mechanism 100 includes a housing 10 and a cover 20 mounted to the housing 10. The housing 10 includes two opposite sidewalls 12, each sidewall 12 defines a latching slot 14 (shown more clearly in FIG. 5) on an outer surface thereof. Each latching slot 14 has a latching surface 142 (shown more clearly in FIG. 5) defined therein for latching the cover 20 to the housing 10.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3-4, the cover 20 includes two opposite edges 22 and an end portion 23. Each edge 22 has a latch 24 protruding towards the other edge 22. Each latch 24 releasably latches one of the latching slots 14 so the cover 20 is releasably latched to the housing 10. Each latch 24, in this exemplary embodiment, is substantially a post including a securing surface 242, a resisting surface 244, and an end surface 246. The end surfaces 246 opposes the end portion 23 and each end surface 246 has a sloped guiding surface 248 defined thereon. The guiding surfaces 248 intersect with the corresponding securing surface 242 and corresponding resisting surface 244. Each securing surface 242 latches with one of the latching surfaces 142 to latch the cover 20 to the housing 10. The guiding surfaces 248 are for guiding the securing surfaces 242 to move along the latching surfaces 142, to facilitate the latches 24 to separate from the latching slot 14.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4-5, to latch the cover 20 to the housing 10, the latches 24 are aligned with the latching slot 14. And then, the cover 20 is pushed toward the housing 10 until the latches 24 are latched in the latching slots 14 with each securing surface 242 latches with one of the latching surfaces 142. Thus, the cover 20 is latched to the housing 10 by the latching engagement of the securing surface 242 and the latching surface 142.

Referring to FIGS. 2-3 and 5-6, to release the cover 20 from the housing 10, the end portion 23 is pulled away from the housing 10 to tilt the end portion 23 and the end surfaces 246 relative to the housing 10. As the end surfaces 246 are tilted, the guiding surfaces 248 move on the latching surfaces 142 to guide the securing surface 242. Thus, the cover 20 is released from the housing 10.

It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the exemplary disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A cover latching mechanism comprising: a housing having a latching slot defined therein; and a cover having a latch protruding therefrom and an end portion; wherein the latch defines a guiding surface facing the end portion; when the end portion is tilted relative to the housing, the guiding surface guides the latch to slide out of the latching slot.
 2. The cover latching mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latch includes a securing surface intersecting with the guiding surface; the housing has a latching surface defined in the latching slot; the latching surface latches with the securing surface to latch the cover to the housing.
 3. The cover latching mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the guiding surface guides the securing surface to move along the latching surface to facilitate the latch slide out of the latching slot.
 4. The cover latching mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guiding surface is a sloped surface.
 5. The cover latching mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latch is substantially a post. 